Meet Donna Mills’ Daughter, Whom She Adopted at 54 & Put Her Career on Hold for 18 Years to Raise – Pics #5

The actress built a thriving Hollywood career, but her greatest joy came later in life — becoming a mom. Meet her adopted daughter, Chloe, who is making her own mark in the industry while maintaining a bond with her mother that is stronger than ever.

Donna Mills built a successful career in Hollywood, best known for her role as the glamorous and cunning Abby Cunningham on “Knots Landing.” But despite all her achievements, something was missing.

In her 50s, she realized she wanted to experience motherhood and adopted her daughter, Chloe. Prioritizing her role as a mother, she put her career on hold for nearly two decades. Now, Chloe is following in her mom’s footsteps, and their bond remains unbreakable.

Donna made a name for herself in Hollywood with her striking beauty, undeniable talent, and captivating on-screen presence. Best known for her role as Abby Cunningham on the hit primetime soap opera “Knots Landing,” she became a television icon.

She starred in numerous shows as well, making her mark with roles in “The Secret Storm” and “Love is a Many Splendored Thing.”

As for the big screen, she landed appearances in movies such as “Play Misty for Me,” where she starred opposite Clint Eastwood. But despite her professional success, she felt something was missing from her life.

“I had had a hit series, I had my own production company, I was doing all this stuff, and I said to myself, ‘Well, this is great. I’ve achieved almost everything that I’ve wanted to in my career. What about my life?'” she shared.

“How does that look to me? Do I wanna go through life without knowing what it’s like to be a mother, which is the most important thing in the world? No. I want that in my life,'” the actress continued.

“I was very concentrated on my career, but at a certain point, I realized there was something missing — it was a child,” she said.

Her realization led her to make a life-altering decision. In 1994, at 54 years old and single, she adopted a baby girl and named her Chloe. “So I went after it. I adopted her when she was four days old,” the actress revealed. “And that’s probably what I feel is my greatest joy,” she shared.

However, some questioned whether she was too old to raise a child. “By that time, I was 54 and people said, ‘You’re going to be so old [to] have a little toddler running around.’ I never felt that,” she recalled. “I never felt older than the other mothers who were probably in their 20s.”

If anything, the Hollywood star believed the timing of her decision to adopt was ideal and encouraged others to consider a similar path. “If you want to give to your career, I say having a child later in life is better than having a child early,” she said.

As for the moment she met Chloe, the actress revealed it was “probably the best moment of my entire life when she was put in my arms. […] Those are my happiest times in my life, sitting in the rocking chair with her on my chest, singing to her.”

Determined to give Chloe the best upbringing possible, the actress knew she wanted to be a full-time mother. Thus, she stepped away from the entertainment industry, putting her career on hold for 18 years to focus on raising her daughter.

“I didn’t become a mom at 54 to give her to a nanny,” she shared. “Well, the first couple of years, I did work. I did some movies for television and stuff like that because I could take her wherever I went,” the actress clarified. “But then when she started school, I wasn’t going to go out of town for two months at a time,” she added.

However, once Chloe left for college, the actress decided it was time to return to acting. “It’s gonna be kind of a struggle to get back,” she admitted at the time. “‘Cause the casting directors are 12, and they don’t know who I am. And it was a bit of a struggle.”

In addition to her insights on motherhood and rebuilding her career, Donna has shared her secrets to aging gracefully. She has steered clear of cosmetic procedures, embracing natural beauty and healthy living.

“I usually work out every day. Having been a dancer, I have my ballet bar in a little gym upstairs, and I just got a Peloton for my birthday,” she explained. “I do weight training and a lot of stretching.”

Her diet has also played a key role in maintaining her youthful energy. “I’ve always been a healthy eater. I don’t eat sugar. I don’t eat pasta. I don’t do starches,” she continued. “I eat mostly proteins and vegetables.”

When it comes to skincare, the actress has one golden rule. “For skincare, the main thing is stay out of the frickin’ sun! […] And somebody asked me, ‘Why don’t you get [cosmetic enhancements]?’ No, because I’m not going to look like a duck. I’d rather have lines than a duck bill,” she shared.

Just as she embraced natural beauty and aging gracefully, Donna also maintained an independent approach to relationships.

Though she has had her share of romantic relationships, Donna never married. “I was and still am tremendously independent. Always have been,” she said, adding that she turned down marriage proposals over the years.

However, her partner, actor and producer Larry Gilman, has been by her side for years. “I have a relationship now that I’ve been in for 16 years. We’re like married but we never married. I never really saw the necessity of being married,” Donna shared.

However, when asked if she would consider marriage now, the actress made her stance clear. “If there were some ritualistic kind of reason for doing it or something like that, I would. But probably not,” she said. “At this point, I think it would be so hard to mix finances and everything else.”

Chloe followed in her famous mother’s footsteps and pursued a career in acting, landing roles in “Aftermath” in 2021 and “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas” in 2023.

In addition to acting, she also worked as a model, standing at 5’10” with brown hair and striking hazel eyes. However, Donna has always been protective of her daughter, especially in the wake of industry scandals.

“I’ve given her advice all along because she’s been a model now for a number of years and they probably get the worst of it,” Donna explained. “They’re all beautiful and have wonderful, beautiful bodies and there are a lot of photographers that are predatory.”

The actress made sure Chloe always felt safe in her career. “I would say, ‘If there’s anything shady about it, you just turn right around and walk out,'” she said. “Also, I talk with her agents to make sure that they know where they’re sending her.”

As for their relationship, Chloe has always been grateful for her mother’s presence. “Every activity I did, she was there. Every show I did, every tennis match I had, she was always there,” she said.

Though years have passed since she first held Chloe in her arms, their bond remains as strong as ever. “We see each other at least once a week and we talk every day or text,” Donna shared. The pair even got matching tattoos as a symbol of their bond.

Their close mother-daughter relationship has also been documented on social media. In November 2023, Donna shared a sweet photo on Instagram of her and Chloe wearing smiles.

One fan commented on the post, “Your daughter is a cutie too.” Another shared, “Such a pretty girl.” A third typed, “You are still gorgeous, and so is your daughter.” “She’s beautiful just like her mum ❤️,” a fourth fan commented on another post of Chloe and her famous mom.

Nearly a year later, in October 2024, Donna took to Instagram to share exciting news — Chloe was expecting. “My baby girl is having a baby!! And we gave her the shower of her dreams. Can’t wait to meet the little guy. I know I’ll love him as much as I love her,” the actress wrote.

On October 27, 2024, a beautiful baby shower was held for Chloe, celebrating the upcoming arrival of her son.

By February 2025, Chloe welcomed her son and shared the joyful news online. “Colter Benjamin Collings 🫶🏽✨🌊 🫧newborn bliss…we are so in love with you baby boy!” she captioned the post.

Chloe’s partner, Travis Collings, is the father of the actress’ first grandchild. While the couple has kept most of their relationship private, they have shared glimpses of their excitement about starting a family together.

Donna Mills’ journey from Hollywood star to devoted mother proves that it’s never too late to embrace motherhood. She put her career on hold to raise Chloe, and their bond remains unbreakable. Now, as Chloe starts her own family, the famous actress, 84, is stepping into a new role — grandmother.